Cam Newton: Why Warren Moon Is off-Base on Newton

Cam Newton's Treatment Not Racially Motivated, But Simply the Nature Of Draft Frenzy

It seems as though, from the moment the Cam Newton-hype train left the station, there have been naysayers. 

Pundits, bloggers, analysts, draftniks, your next door neighbor. All of them seem to have a reason why Cam Newton won't make it as an NFL quarterback. 

Well, Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Warren Moon is sick of it, and he thinks there's more to this issue than Newton's physical skills.

"A lot of the criticism he's receiving is unfortunate and racially based," Moon, who is Newton's adviser, told the website. "I thought we were all past this. I don't see other quarterbacks in the draft being criticized by the media or fans about their smile or called a phony. He's being held to different standards from white quarterbacks. I thought we were past all this stuff about African-American quarterbacks, but I guess we're not."

Moon's point is centered around numerous draft publications that critique not only Newton's play, but his personality, as well, calling him "disingenuous" and "fake". 

I do agree with Moon's tweet today that as a 5'9" white man who lacks the skills to be an NFL quarterback, I can't understand exactly what it's like to be an African-American quarterback trying to make it in the NFL. I also agree that racism is still very much present in American society today.

But, the evidence shows us that Newton is less a victim of racism than he is a victim of a society that heavily scrutinizes, analyzes, and devours every aspect of the NFL Draft. 

Consider the case of Carolina Panther quarterback Jimmy Clausen last season. Scouts had very similar things to say about the former Notre Dame passer's personality, calling him "scripted and disingenuous in interviews", according to Nolan Nawrocki of Pro Football Weekly, the company who critiqued Newton's personality.

Remember Tim Tebow? The former Florida Gator had literally done everything it is possible to do in college football, won every conceivable accolade, award and title he could. 

But that didn't stop draftniks from ripping his game apart, questioning whether it would translate to the NFL. 

This is the business of the draft now. We rip apart players, then build them back up, or build up others depending on our opinions. No one is denying Newton's physical talents, nor are they denying his ability to lead. But numerous quarterbacks over the years have had the same questions asked of their ability to adapt to the pro game, players of all races. 

Is every scout colorblind? Hardly. Moon has a point that in many cases, black quarterbacks have been unfairly pigeonholed because of assumptions about their race and intelligence, and continue to fight some stereotypes against them. But to accuse scouts of racism simply because they think that Newton, who has had controversy follow him throughout his college career, is disingenuous and fake is a bit of a reach. 

I'm not saying that there are no racial aspects to Cam Newton's critics, but calling it the primary force turns a blind eye to facts that say otherwise. 

For more NFL news, check out 2011 NFL Mock Draft: Will Cam Newton Overtake Blaine Gabbert on Draft Day? 

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